The accident occurred at about 7:40 a.m. on Route 40 near the intersection of Burlington Road, according to NJSP. Route 40 was shut down in both directions as emergency personnel responded to the scene.

The school van was transporting one student, and police said that student was taken to Cooper University Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Deborah Thomas, 58, of Pittsgrove Towsnhip, died Friday morning in an accident involving the school van she was driving in Upper Pittsgrove Township, state police said.

The van was from CJ's Bus Service, in Monroeville, and in a statement released Friday morning, the company said they were deeply saddened by the loss of one of their best drivers.

"This is every school bus contractor's worst nightmare," the release said. "She was an excellent school bus driver who cared deeply not only for all of the special education students she transported but everyone she came in contact with... We will truly miss her."

The release said Thomas had been with the service for about 12 years and had a spotless driving record.

The tractor-trailer was from O&A Transport out of Vineland. The driver of the truck — identified as Oscar Torres, 30, of Vineland, was taken to an area hospital.

Information on the occupant or occupants of the third car were not immediately available.